BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT] today reported third quarter 2020 net sales of $16.5 billion, compared to $15.2 billion in the third quarter of 2019. Net earnings from continuing operations in the third quarter of 2020 were $1.8 billion, or $6.25 per share, compared to $1.6 billion, or $5.66 per share, in the third quarter of 2019. Cash from operations in the third quarter of 2020 was $1.9 billion, compared to cash from operations of $2.5 billion in the third quarter of 2019.

"In the third quarter, our dedicated workforce and resilient supply chain continued to support our customers' vital national security missions, overcoming the challenges of the pandemic," said James Taiclet, Lockheed Martin president and CEO. "As a result, we delivered strong results across our key financial metrics and we expect to build on this success through the remainder of the year. Looking ahead to 2021, we remain focused on driving innovation and growing our assets and capabilities to further benefit our customers and shareholders."

Summary Financial Results

The following table presents the corporation's summary financial results.

2020 Financial Outlook

The following table and other sections of this news release contain forward-looking statements, which are based on the corporation's current expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. It is the corporation's practice not to incorporate adjustments into its financial outlook for proposed acquisitions, divestitures, ventures, changes in law, or new accounting standards until such items have been consummated, enacted or adopted. For additional factors that may impact the corporation's actual results, refer to the "Forward-Looking Statements" section in this news release. 

2021 Financial Trends

The corporation expects its 2021 net sales to increase to greater than or equal to $67 billion. Total business segment operating margin in 2021 is expected to be in the 10.9 percent to 11.1 percent range and cash from operations is expected to be greater than or equal to $8.1 billion, net of $1.0 billion of planned pension contributions. The preliminary outlook for 2021 assumes continued support and funding of our programs, including recovery of COVID-19 cost impacts, and a statutory tax rate of 21%. Additionally, the preliminary outlook for 2021 assumes that there will not be significant reductions in customer budgets, changes in funding priorities and that the U.S. Government will not continue to operate under a continuing resolution for an extended period in which new contract and program starts are restricted. Changes in circumstances may require the corporation to revise its assumptions, which could materially change its current estimate of 2021 net sales, operating margin and cash flows.

The corporation currently expects a total net FAS/CAS pension benefit of approximately $2.1 billion in 2021. This estimate assumes a 2.50 percent discount rate (a 75 basis point decrease from the end of 2019), a 7.00 percent return on plan assets in 2020, and a 7.00 percent expected long-term rate of return on plan assets in future years, among other assumptions. A change of plus or minus 25 basis points to the assumed discount rate, with all other assumptions held constant, would result in an incremental increase or decrease of approximately $15 million to the estimated net 2021 FAS/CAS pension benefit. A change of plus or minus 100 basis points to the return on plan assets in 2020 only, with all other assumptions held constant, would result in an incremental increase or decrease of approximately $15 million to the estimated net 2021 FAS/CAS pension benefit. The corporation expects to make contributions of approximately $1.0 billion to its qualified defined benefit pension plans in 2021 and anticipates recovering approximately $2.1 billion of CAS pension cost. The corporation will complete the annual remeasurement of its postretirement benefit plans and update its estimated 2021 FAS/CAS pension adjustment on Dec. 31, 2020. The final assumptions and actual investment return for 2020 may differ materially from those discussed above.

COVID-19

The global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and a national emergency by the U.S. Government in March 2020 and has negatively affected the U.S. and global economies, disrupted global supply chains, resulted in significant travel and transport restrictions, including mandated closures and orders to "shelter-in-place" and quarantine restrictions, and created significant disruption of the financial markets. Lockheed Martin has taken measures to protect the health and safety of its employees, work with its customers and suppliers to minimize disruptions and support its community in addressing the challenges posed by this ongoing global pandemic. The pandemic has presented unprecedented business challenges, and the corporation has experienced impacts in each business area related to COVID-19, primarily in increased coronavirus-related costs, delays in supplier deliveries, impacts of travel restrictions, site access and quarantine requirements, and the impacts of remote work and adjusted work schedules. Despite these challenges, the corporation and the U.S. Government's pro-active efforts, especially with regard to the supply chain, helped to partially mitigate the disruptions caused by COVID-19 on the corporation's operations in the first nine months of 2020. In addition, favorable contract award timing, strong operational performance and lower travel and overhead expenditures due to COVID-19 restrictions partially offset the impacts of COVID-19 on the corporation's financial results in the first nine months of 2020. However, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 in future periods remains uncertain. The corporation's 2020 outlook and 2021 financial trends assumes, among other things, that its production facilities continue to operate and it does not experience significant work stoppages or closures, it is able to mitigate any supply chain disruptions and these do not worsen, and it is able to recover its costs under U.S. Government contracts and government funding priorities do not change. While these are the corporation's current assumptions, they could change and will depend on future pandemic related developments, including the duration of the pandemic and any potential subsequent waves of COVID-19 infection and government actions.

Cash Activities

The corporation's cash activities in the third quarter of 2020 included the following:

• paying cash dividends of $672 million, compared to $621 million in the third quarter of 2019;
• repurchasing 0.2 million shares for $85 million, which includes $26 million paid for shares repurchased in the second quarter of 2020; compared to repurchasing 0.6 million shares for $210 million in the third quarter of 2019; and
• making capital expenditures of $408 million, compared to $308 million in the third quarter of 2019.

As previously reported on Sept. 25, 2020, the corporation increased its quarterly dividend by $0.20 per share, to $2.60 per share, beginning with the dividend payment in the fourth quarter of 2020. The corporation also increased its share repurchase authority by $1.3 billion with $3.0 billion in total remaining authorization for future repurchases of common stock under the program as of Sept. 27, 2020.

Segment Results

The corporation operates in four business segments organized based on the nature of products and services offered: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) and Space. The following table presents summary operating results of the corporation's business segments and reconciles these amounts to the corporation's consolidated financial results.

Net sales and operating profit of the corporation's business segments exclude intersegment sales, cost of sales, and profit as these activities are eliminated in consolidation. Operating profit of the corporation's business segments includes the corporation's share of earnings or losses from equity method investees as the operating activities of the investees are closely aligned with the operations of its business segments.

Operating profit of the corporation's business segments also excludes the FAS/CAS operating adjustment described below, a portion of corporate costs not considered allowable or allocable to contracts with the U.S. Government under the applicable U.S. Government cost accounting standards (CAS) or federal acquisition regulations (FAR), and other items not considered part of management's evaluation of segment operating performance such as a portion of management and administration costs, legal fees and settlements, environmental costs, stock-based compensation expense, retiree benefits, significant severance actions, significant asset impairments, gains or losses from significant divestitures, and other miscellaneous corporate activities.

The corporation recovers CAS pension cost through the pricing of its products and services on U.S. Government contracts and, therefore, recognizes CAS pension cost in each of its business segments' net sales and cost of sales. The corporation's consolidated financial statements must present pension and other postretirement benefit plan expense calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (referred to as FAS expense). The operating portion of the net FAS/CAS pension adjustment represents the difference between the service cost component of FAS pension expense and total CAS pension cost. The non-service FAS pension expense components are included in other non-operating expense. The net FAS/CAS pension adjustment increases or decreases CAS pension cost to equal total FAS pension expense (both service and non-service).

Changes in net sales and operating profit generally are expressed in terms of volume. Changes in volume refer to increases or decreases in sales or operating profit resulting from varying production activity levels, deliveries or service levels on individual contracts. Volume changes in segment operating profit are typically based on the current profit booking rate for a particular contract. In addition, comparability of the corporation's segment sales, operating profit and operating margin may be impacted favorably or unfavorably by changes in profit booking rates on the corporation's contracts for which it recognizes revenue over time using the percentage-of-completion cost-to-cost method to measure progress towards completion. Increases in profit booking rates, typically referred to as risk retirements, usually relate to revisions in the estimated total costs to fulfill the performance obligations that reflect improved conditions on a particular contract. Conversely, conditions on a particular contract may deteriorate, resulting in an increase in the estimated total costs to fulfill the performance obligations and a reduction in the profit booking rate. Increases or decreases in profit booking rates are recognized in the current period and reflect the inception-to-date effect of such changes.

Segment operating profit and margin may also be impacted favorably or unfavorably by other items, which may or may not impact sales. Favorable items may include the positive resolution of contractual matters, insurance recoveries and gains on sales of assets. Unfavorable items may include the adverse resolution of contractual matters; restructuring charges, except for significant severance actions which are excluded from segment operating results; reserves for disputes; certain asset impairments; and losses on sales of certain assets. 

The corporation's consolidated net adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, represented approximately 24 percent of total segment operating profit in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to 29 percent in the third quarter of 2019.

Aeronautics 

Aeronautics' net sales in the third quarter of 2020 increased $502 million, or 8 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $325 million for the F-35 program due to increased volume on development, sustainment, and production contracts; and about $130 million for higher volume on classified development contracts.

Aeronautics' operating profit in the third quarter of 2020 increased $40 million, or 6 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $65 million for the F-35 program due to higher volume on production, development, and sustainment contracts and higher risk retirements on production contracts. This increase was partially offset by a decrease of approximately $20 million for the F-16 program due to lower risk retirements on sustainment contracts. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, in the third quarter of 2020 were comparable to the same period in 2019.

Missiles and Fire Control

MFC's net sales in the third quarter of 2020 increased $370 million, or 14 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $250 million for tactical and strike missile programs due to increased volume (primarily Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) and High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)); and about $200 million for integrated air and missile defense programs due to increased volume (primarily Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)). These increases were partially offset by lower net sales of approximately $60 million for sensors and global sustainment programs due to lower volume on the Apache sensors program; and about $35 million due to the divestiture of the Distributed Energy Solutions business in November 2019. 

MFC's operating profit in the third quarter of 2020 increased $56 million, or 16 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $50 million for integrated air and missile defense programs due to increased volume and higher risk retirements on international contracts (primarily PAC-3); and about $45 million for tactical and strike missile programs due to higher volume (primarily GMLRS and HIMARS) and higher risk retirements (primarily Long Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO)). These increases were partially offset by a decrease of approximately $40 million for sensors and global sustainment programs due primarily to lower risk retirements and a reduction in the profit booking rate on the Apache sensors program. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $25 million lower in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Rotary and Mission Systems

RMS' net sales in the third quarter of 2020 increased $289 million, or 8 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Net sales increased approximately $180 million for Sikorsky helicopter programs due to higher volume primarily on production contracts (primarily Seahawk, VH-92A, and Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)); about $55 million for various training and logistics solutions (TLS) programs due to higher volume; and about $35 million for integrated warfare systems and sensors (IWSS) programs due to higher volume primarily on the Aegis Combat System (Aegis) partially offset by lower volume on Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).

RMS' operating profit in the third quarter of 2020 increased $62 million, or 18 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Operating profit increased approximately $30 million for Sikorsky helicopter programs due to higher volume on production contracts (primarily VH-92A and CRH), customer mix, and better cost performance on international military aircraft programs; and about $30 million for IWSS programs due to higher risk retirements (primarily Radar Surveillance Systems and Aegis). Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $15 million lower in the third quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Space

Space's net sales in the third quarter of 2020 increased $163 million, or 6 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to higher net sales of approximately $90 million for government satellite programs due to higher volume (primarily Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next Gen OPIR)); and about $60 million for strategic and missile defense programs due to higher volume (primarily hypersonic development programs).

Space's operating profit in the third quarter of 2020 decreased $61 million, or 20 percent, compared to the same period in 2019. Operating profit decreased approximately $50 million due to lower equity earnings from the corporation's investment in United Launch Alliance (ULA); about $15 million for government satellite programs due to lower risk retirements (primarily Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF)); and about $15 million for strategic and missile defense programs due to lower risk retirements (primarily Fleet Ballistic Missiles). These decreases were partially offset by an increase of approximately $15 million for commercial satellite programs due to charges recorded for performance matters in 2019 not repeated in 2020. Adjustments not related to volume, including net profit booking rate adjustments, were $25 million lower in the third quarter of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.

Total equity earnings recognized by Space (primarily ULA) represented approximately $5 million, or 2 percent of Space's operating profit in the third quarter of 2020, compared to approximately $55 million, or 18 percent in the third quarter of 2019.

Income Taxes

The corporation's effective income tax rate was 14.7 percent in the third quarter of 2020, compared to 9.7 percent in the third quarter of 2019. The rate for the third quarter of 2019 was lower primarily due to a $62 million benefit, or $0.22 per share, of additional tax deductions for 2018 attributable to foreign derived intangible income treatment based on proposed tax regulations released on March 4, 2019, and a change in tax accounting method, reflecting a 2012 Court of Federal Claims decision, which held that the tax basis in certain assets should be increased and realized upon the assets' disposition.

The rates for both periods benefited from additional tax deductions based on proposed tax regulations released on March 4, 2019, which clarified that foreign military sales qualify for foreign derived intangible income treatment. On July 9, 2020, the U.S. Treasury Department issued final tax regulations related to foreign derived intangible income. The final tax regulations confirm foreign military sales qualify for foreign derived intangible income treatment. We continue to assess the other effects of the final regulations.

The rates for both periods also benefited from the research and development tax credit, dividends paid to the corporation's defined contribution plans with an employee stock ownership plan feature, and tax deductions for employee equity awards.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release contains the following non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) financial measures (as defined by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Regulation G). While management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures may be useful in evaluating the financial performance of the corporation, this information should be considered supplemental and is not a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the corporation's definitions for non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies or analysts.

Business segment operating profit represents operating profit from the corporation's business segments before unallocated income and expense. This measure is used by the corporation's senior management in evaluating the performance of its business segments and is a performance goal in the corporation's annual incentive plan. Business segment operating margin is calculated by dividing business segment operating profit by sales. The table below reconciles the non-GAAP measure business segment operating profit with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, consolidated operating profit.

Conference Call Information

Lockheed Martin Corporation will webcast live the earnings results conference call (listen-only mode) on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The live webcast and relevant financial charts will be available for download on the Lockheed Martin Investor Relations website at www.lockheedmartin.com/investor.

For additional information, visit the corporation's website: www.lockheedmartin.com.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, and are based on Lockheed Martin's current expectations and assumptions. The words "believe," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "intend," "expect," "plan," "outlook," "scheduled," "forecast" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially due to factors such as:

• the impact of the COVID-19 disease or future epidemics on our business, including the potential for facility closures or work stoppages, supply chain disruptions, program delays, our ability to recover our costs under contracts, changing government funding and acquisition priorities and payment policies and regulations; and potential impacts to the fair value of our assets;
• our reliance on contracts with the U.S. Government, which are conditioned upon the availability of funding and can be terminated by the U.S. Government for convenience, and our ability to negotiate favorable contract terms;
• budget uncertainty, affordability initiatives or the risk of future budget cuts;
• risks related to the development, production, sustainment, performance, schedule, cost and requirements of complex and technologically advanced programs including our largest, the F-35 program;
• planned production rates for significant programs; compliance with stringent performance and reliability standards; materials availability;
• the performance and financial viability of key suppliers, teammates, joint ventures, joint venture partners, subcontractors and customers;
• economic, industry, business and political conditions including their effects on governmental policy and government actions that disrupt our supply chain or prevent the sale or delivery of our products (such as delays in obtaining Congressional approvals for exports requiring Congressional notification and export license delays due to COVID-19);
• trade policies or sanctions (including potential Chinese sanctions on us or our suppliers, teammates or partners; Turkey's removal from the F-35 program and potential U.S. Government sanctions on Turkey and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia);
• our success expanding into and doing business in adjacent markets and internationally and the differing risks posed by international sales;
• changes in foreign national priorities and foreign government budgets;
• the competitive environment for our products and services, including increased pricing pressures, aggressive pricing in the absence of cost realism evaluation criteria, competition from outside the aerospace and defense industry, and bid protests;
• the timing and customer acceptance of product deliveries;
• our ability to continue to innovate and develop new products and to attract and retain key personnel and transfer knowledge to new personnel; the impact of work stoppages or other labor disruptions;
• the impact of cyber or other security threats or other disruptions to our businesses;
• our ability to implement and continue, and the timing and impact of, capitalization changes such as share repurchases and dividend payments;
• our ability to recover costs under U.S. Government contracts and changes in contract mix;
• the accuracy of our estimates and projections and the potential impact of changes in U.S. or foreign tax laws;
• timing and estimates regarding pension funding and movements in interest rates and other changes that may affect pension plan assumptions, stockholders' equity, the level of the FAS/CAS adjustment and actual returns on pension plan assets;
• the successful operation of joint ventures that we do not control and our ability to recover our investments;
• realizing the anticipated benefits of acquisitions or divestitures, joint ventures, teaming arrangements or internal reorganizations;
• our efforts to increase the efficiency of our operations and improve the affordability of our products and services;
• the risk of an impairment of our assets, including the potential impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and inventory recorded as a result of the acquisition of the Sikorsky business;
• the availability and adequacy of our insurance and indemnities;
• our ability to benefit fully from or adequately protect our intellectual property rights;
• procurement and other regulations and policies affecting our industry, including federal rules prohibiting the use of certain Chinese telecommunications equipment, export of our products, cost allowability or recovery, preferred contract type, and performance and progress payments policy, including a reversal or modification to the DoD's increase to the progress payment rate in response to COVID-19;
• the effect of changes in accounting, taxation, or export laws, regulations, and policies and their interpretation or application; and
• the outcome of legal proceedings, bid protests, environmental remediation efforts, audits, government investigations or government allegations that we have failed to comply with law, other contingencies and U.S. Government identification of deficiencies in our business systems.

These are only some of the factors that may affect the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. For a discussion identifying additional important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, see the corporation's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including, but not limited to, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" in the corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The corporation's filings may be accessed through the Investor Relations page of its website, www.lockheedmartin.com/investor, or through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

The corporation's actual financial results likely will be different from those projected due to the inherent nature of projections. Given these uncertainties, forward-looking statements should not be relied on in making investment decisions. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of its filing. Except where required by applicable law, the corporation expressly disclaims a duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements after the date of this news release to reflect subsequent events, changed circumstances, changes in expectations, or the estimates and assumptions associated with them. The forward-looking statements in this news release are intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by the federal securities laws.